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image source, Archyde.com/Vatican
Pope Francis expressed his concern for the health of Benedict XVI.
Pope Francis asked for a prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI during a general audience Wednesday at the Vatican.
“I ask a special prayer for Pope Benedict XVI who in silence is supporting the Church. Remember him – he is very sick – asking the Lord to console him and support him in this testimony of love for the Church, until the end”.
Benedict, 95, became in 2013 the first leader of the Catholic Church to retire in 600 years, justifying it by his advanced age.
The Vatican confirmed that in the last hours the state of health of the pope emeritus has worsened.
“Regarding the health conditions of the pope emeritus, for whom Pope Francis asked to pray at the end of the general audience this morning, I can confirm that in the last few hours there has been an aggravation due to advancing age“, reported the director of the Vatican Press Office, Matteo Bruni.
“The situation for the moment remains under control, constantly monitored by the doctors,” he added.
At the end of the general audience this Wednesday, Pope Francis went to the Mater Ecclesiae monastery, where the emeritus pope resides, to keep him company.
historic resignation
Earlier this month, Francis revealed that he frequently visited his predecessor.
Speaking of Benedict as a “saint” and a man of great spiritual life, he commented that the emeritus pope was lucid and had a good sense of humor.
image source, Archyde.com
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is currently 95 years old.
“Speak in a low voice but continue your conversation,” he told the Spanish newspaper ABCç.
Benedict XVI has had speech problems in recent years.
The emeritus pope was 85 when he shocked Catholics around the world in February 2013 with his decision to step down, less than eight years after being elected.
Since Gregory XII resigned in 1415, no pope I had done it.
Known for his conservative and traditionalist views, contrary to the social activism of Liberation Theology, Benedict XVI was the eighth German to become Pope.
image source, Archyde.com
Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy in 2013.
Earlier this year he issued a public statement regarding how he had managed some cases of priests accused of child abuse when he was Archbishop of Munich, between 1977 and 1982.
A German investigation commissioned by the Catholic Church found that it had failed to act in four cases. Benedict denied wrongdoing, but apologized for any “serious misconduct.”
